The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee will hear oral evidence this afternoon on the Government’s revised Environmental Improvement Plan to meet its legally binding environment and nature targets.
Under the Environment Act, UK governments are required to publish Environmental Improvement Plans (EIPs) which detail how the Government will improve the environment over at least 15 years.
The first EIP, covering 25 years, was published in 2018. This was revised first in January 2023 and then most recently in December 2025. The latest revision included some changes to targets, such as reducing exposure to fine particulate pollution by 30%.
MPs on the Committee are likely to ask witnesses whether the revised EIP demonstrates more ambition than the previous version, and whether it will be enough to get the Government back on track to reaching its environmental commitments.
They are also likely to ask specifically about the EIP’s measures to improve air quality, such as the consultation on domestic wood burning.
Witnesses appearing before the Committee this afternoon are as follows:
From 14.30:
- Richard Benwell, Chief Executive, Wildlife and Countryside Link
- Ruth Chambers OBE, Senior Fellow, Green Alliance
- Livi Elsmore, Senior Campaign Manager, Healthy Air Coalition
From 15.30:
- Sally Hayns, CEO, CIEEM
- Martin Lines, CEO, Nature Friendly Farming Network
- Dr Dianne Mitchell, Chief Environment Adviser at National Farmers Union (NFU)
Click here to watch the evidence session live on Parliamentlive.tv or to catch up later
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